Iran

Italy opposes any military action against Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program because such an attack could destabilize the entire Middle East, Italian Premier Romano Prodi said Tuesday.

Iran reopened two consulates on Tuesday in the cities of Erbil and Sulaimaniyah in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, which were closed after US troops raided the one in Erbil and abducted five Iranians in January.

Israel’s foreign minister said Tuesday that an upcoming peace conference in the United States offers a crucial opportunity for progress, amid growing optimism that this time — just maybe — momentum for peace is real and sustainable.

Expansion of all-out relations with all the neighboring and friendly countries sets the main policy of the Islamic Republic, Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said.

The new ambassador of Cyprus met with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki here on Tuesday.

A prominent Iranian lawmaker here on Tuesday dismissed all proposals offering establishment of a nuclear consortium outside Iran to enrich uranium for the Islamic Republic.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel is scheduled to leave Tehran for the republic of Azerbaijan on Thursday.

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, heading a high-ranking delegation, left Tehran for Armenia on Tuesday.

Iran said it had drawn up a plan to restore stability to Iraq, including suggestions for the expulsion of private security firms and the integration of militias into the security forces.

Iran and Cuba have signed a protocol to establish a shipping company to increase bilateral trade.